Solution for peritoneal dialysis

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a solution for peritoneal dialysis, consisting of at least two single solutions which are combined after a heat sterilization and are administered to a patient, the first single solution containing an osmotic and the second single solution containing a buffer, and one of these single solutions or another single solution containing electrolyte salts. Glucose-like degradation and hydrolysis is avoided during sterilization and storage, while maintenance of a neutral mixture pH is achieved by the osmotic comprising a glucose polymer and/or glucose polymer derivative, and the pH of the first single solution being between 3.5 and 5.0. The present invention further discloses a twin-chambered pouch consisting of a plastic pouch with at least one first chamber and a second chamber, the first single solution being included in the first chamber and the second single solution being included in the second chamber.

This application is a CON of Ser. No. 10/418,201, filed on Apr. 18, 2003, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,345,029.

The present invention relates to a solution for peritoneal dialysis, consisting of at least two single solutions, which are combined after a heat sterilizations and are administered to the patient. The first single solution containing an osmotic and the second single solution containing a buffer, and one of these single solutions, or a further single solution containing electrolyte salts.

Solutions for peritoneal dialysis usually contain three components: the buffer system, electrolytes and an osmotic. Often glucose is used as an osmotic essentially serving to decrease the water content of the blood in an osmotically active concentration, since it has a good osmolarity and is tolerated well. A further advantage of the use of glucose is the cost advantage compared to other possible osmotics.

A disadvantage of the use of glucose, however, is that it caramelizes or isomerizes during heat sterilization, or degradation products are formed which develop harmful effects in the patient's body, e.g. further react with proteins, which is not desired. In order to prevent these disadvantages it is known from DE 197 48 290 A1 to use a peritoneal dialysis solution consisting of two single solutions, the pH of the single solution that contains the glucose and electrolyte salts being adjusted to a value below 3.2. Furthermore it is disclosed to provide the salt of a weak acid with pKa<5 in a second alkaline single solution apart from the bicarbonate present in a low concentration, in order to obtain a physiologically tolerable pH in the mixture of the single solutions. These two single solutions are mixed with each other after heat sterilization, and the mixture is then administered to the patient. If pH values below 3.2 are used, the degradation of glucose can be largely prevented.

Apart from the mentioned use of glucose as an osmotic, it is known for example from WO 83/00087 to use glucose polymers as a substitute for or in addition to glucose. Glucose polymers are used especially for long dwelling times in peritoneal dialysis solutions due to their advantageous ultrafiltration profile. Due to the slow diffusion of glucose polymers relative to glucose, the osmolarity is essentially maintained throughout the treatment. Furthermore, the glucose load of the patient is reduced which is especially advantageous in case of diabetic patients.

The degradation at almost neutral pH values which is observed using glucose, especially in presence of lactate, and the conversion, e.g. to fructose, acetaldehyde and 3-desoxyglucosone is somewhat true for glucose polymers and glucose polymer derivatives as well. For this reason, glucose polymer- or glucose polymer derivatives-containing solutions cannot be sterilized at neutral pH values.

FIG. 1 shows the concentration of the degradation product 3-desoxyglucosone for various single solutions containing the osmotic and being present in twin-chambered pouches, the solution shown at the right containing a glucose polymer as an osmotic instead of glucose. From this it can be seen that relatively large amounts of degradation products are found even when glucose polymers are used. This is due to the fact that not only the terminal carbonyl moiety of glucose polymers is converted but also can a glucose unit be cleaved off from the polymer. Furthermore it is possible that so far unknown conversion products are formed which are still contained within the polymer compound of the osmotic.

In the already mentioned WO 83/00087 peritoneal dialysis solutions are described in which glucose polymers with a degree of polymerization of at least 4 are used as osmotic. The peritoneal dialysis solution of this publication has a pH in the range of 5 to 7.4, which during heat sterilization may be associated with the above mentioned disadvantages.

If the problems related to the degradation or the conversion of glucose polymers or their derivatives during storage and heat sterilization are to be avoided by adjusting the pH of values below 3.2, as it is known for glucose from DE 197 48 290 A1, the problem arises that the polymers are hydrolyzed, which results in breaking of the polymer chain or in decrease of the average molecular weight. The preparation of solutions containing glucose polymers or glucose polymer derivatives is aggravated since they might also contain acids which must be considered when the pH is adjusted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a peritoneal dialysis solution containing glucose polymers and/or glucose polymer derivatives which are not subjected to glucose-like degradation during storage and heat sterilization, and the mixture of which having a pH value in the neutral range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the concentration of the degradation product, 3-desoxyglucosone for various single solutions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the invention, the glucose degradation problem is solved by the osmotic comprising a glucose polymer and/or a glucose polymer derivative, and the pH value of the first single solution being in the range of 3.0 to 5.0. It is especially advantageous that the pH is in the range between 4.0 and 4.3, preferably at 4.2. With these pH values essentially no polymer degradation is observed. This is especially true for a pH of 4.0. The addition of 0.2 pH units to the preferred value of 4.2 is intended as a safety measure for the possible generation of acids during sterilisation and storage. In the claimed pH range, no hydrolysis of the osmotic or a glucose-like degradation takes place in noticeable extend. The osmotic can be formed exclusively with the glucose polymer and/or the glucose polymer derivative. It is also conceivable that further osmotically active substances are present.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it is envisioned that the glucose polymer derivative is hydroxyethyl starch (HES). The present invention also refers to other derivatized glucose polymers, in which preferably not the free carbonyl group of the molecules has been modified during derivatization.

The first single solution may contain the osmotic, calcium ions, magnesium ions, sodium ions, H⁺ excess ions and chloride ions.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the buffer contains bicarbonate. This is a very tolerable buffer system being in equilibrium with carbonate in the alkaline range and with CO₂ in the acidic range. Apart from or in addition to bicarbonate, other buffer systems are conceivable as well, that buffer in a physiological pH of approx. 7. Hereby, preferably substances are to be named which may be degraded easily to bicarbonate in the body. For example, lactate or pyruvate may be considered. Apart from bicarbonate or other puffer systems, the second single solution further contains mainly sodium ions.

It is advantageous that the bicarbonate concentration is adjusted according to the acidity of the first single solution, and is determined according to the formula: bicarbonate concentration [mmol/L]=5× acidity of the first single solution [mmol/L]×V_(A)/V_(B), with V_(A) being the volume of the first single solution and V_(B) being the volume of the second single solution.

At an acidity of 0.2 mmol/L, the optimal bicarbonate concentration is 0.5 to 2.0 mmol/L when the compartments of a twin-chambered pouch are equally sized. Accordingly, the bicarbonate concentration can be in a range the lower limit of which is determined by half of the bicarbonate concentration determined according to claim 6, and the upper limit of which is determined by twice the bicarbonate concentration determined according to claim 6.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it is envisioned that the buffer contains the salt of a weak acid, preferably lactate. The pKa of the weak acid may be <5. It may be envisioned that the buffer contains a mixture e.g. of bicarbonate and the salt of a weak acid, e.g. lactate. If the bicarbonate content is kept low, e.g. ≦10 mmol/L, as it is suggested in DE 197 48 290 A1, it has the advantage that the CO₂ pressure within the storage pouch is low so that no special provisions have to be made with respect to the pouch foil. A conventional polyolefin foil may be used as a CO₂ barrier.

The first single solution may contain a physiologically tolerable acid, especially hydrochloric acid. With this, the desired pH range of the first single solution can be adjusted without problems.

Apart from the osmotic, the first single solution may contain the following components:

sodium ions [mmol/L]: 180-200 calcium ions [mmol/L]: 2-4 magnesium ions [mmol/L]: 0.8-1.2 H⁺ excess [mmol/L]: 0.05-0.1  chloride ions [mmol/L]: 197-210

In a further embodiment of the present invention it is envisioned that the bicarbonate concentration of the second single solution is in the range between 0.5 and 2.0 mmol/L, preferably 1.0 mmol/L.

It is especially advantageous that the first and second single solutions are storable individually in a twin-chambered pouch. The use of a twin-chambered pouch allows for very convenient handling of the solution, i.e. a reliable separation of the two single solutions during storage, and fast mixing when desired. The separation of the single solutions is reasonable in order to prevent, that insoluble precipitations are formed using bicarbonate as buffer together with calcium. Furthermore, the reaction of the glucose polymers or their derivatives with lactate as a buffer system can be avoided by the separation.

In addition, the present invention relates to a twin-chambered pouch for a solution according to one of the claims 1 to 12, consisting of a plastic pouch with at least one first chamber and one second chamber, the first single solution being included in the first chamber and the second single solution being included in the second chamber. Favourably, means are envisioned by which the two chambers are separated from each other and the activation of which enables the mixing of the content of both chambers. Hereby, the first and second chamber may be arranged adjacently. Preferably, a weld is provided which separates the chambers and opens in case of pressing onto one of the chambers. If dimensioned accordingly, the weld opens in case of pressing onto one of the fluid-filled chambers so that the contents of both chambers may be mixed and the mixture be finally administered to the patient.

In the following, an example for the preparation of the solution according to the invention is provided:

For preparation of the first single solution, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride as well as a glucose polymer and hydrochloric acid are dissolved in water under stirring. The amount of the added hydrochloric acid is adjusted so that the pH is in the range between 4.1 to 4.3, preferably 4.2. Whereas a pH of 4.0 is to be regarded as ideal since no polymer degradation is observed, the 0.2 pH units to a pH of 4.2 serve as an addition to account for the possible formation of acids during sterilization and storage.

The acidity of this first single solution may be determined by titration with 0.1 N NaOH to pH 7.0.

For the second single solution, sodium hydrogen carbonate is dissolved in water under slow stirring. The bicarbonate concentration is determined according to the formula: bicarbonate concentration [mmol/L]=5× acidity of the first single solution [mmol/L]×V _(A)/V _(B),

-   -   with V_(A) being the volume of the first single solution and         V_(B) being the volume of the second single solution.

Deviations from this calculated bicarbonate concentration by 50% down and by 100% up are possible. If the acidity of the first single solution is e.g. 0.2 mmol/L, and if two equally sized compartments of a twin-chambered pouch are used, the optimal bicarbonate concentration is between 0.5 and 2.0 mmol/L.

The single solutions prepared in this way are then filtered through a membrane sterile filter in a cooling tank. After preparation control and release of the solution, they are filled into a multi-layered foil pouch with two chambers, the first single solution being filled into the first chamber and the second single solution being filled into the second chamber. Both chambers are separated from each other by a weld. The compartments are each closed with a connector. Then, the twin-chambered pouch is packed into an outer pouch, and heat-sterilized at 121° C. After heat sterilization, the weld is opened at least in part by pressing onto one of the chambers resulting in a mixing of the solutions, and by which a mixture pH in the range between 6.8 and 7.0, preferably 6.8, is obtained. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A solution for peritoneal dialysis, said solution comprising a first single solution and a second single solution, the first single solution containing an osmotic, hydrochloric acid in an amount to create a pH in the range between 3.5 and 5.0, and electrolytic salts, and the second single solution containing a buffer, wherein the osmotic comprises hydroxyethylene starch, and whereby the first single solution and the second single solution are mixed prior to use to obtain the solution for peritoneal dialysis.
 2. A method for making a solution for peritoneal dialysis, comprising the following steps: (a) preparing a first single solution containing an osmotic and hydrochloric acid in an amount to create a pH between 3.5 and 5.0, the osmotic comprising glucose polymer derivatives, and the pH of the first single solution being in the range between 3.5 and 5.0; (b) preparing a second single solution containing a buffer; (c) (1) preparing a third single solution containing electrolytic salts, or  (2) including electrolytic salts in the first single solution; (d) heat sterilizing the solutions from steps (a), (b), and from step (c), if prepared, and (e) mixing together the sterilized solutions from step (d).
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pH of the first single solution is in the range between about 4.0 and 4.3.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the osmotic comprises a hydroxyethylene starch.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second single solution comprises bicarbonate.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bicarbonate concentration is in a range between 2.5 and 10× the acidity of the first single solution [mmol/L]×V_(A)/V_(B), with V_(A) being the volume of the first single solution in liters and V_(B) being the volume of the second single solution in liters.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the bicarbonate concentration of the second single solution is in the range between 0.5 and 2.0 mmol/L.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bicarbonate concentration of the second single solution is in the range between 1.0 and 2.0 mmol/L.
 9. The method of claim 2, Wherein the first and single solutions are stored separately in a twin-chambered pouch.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein means are provided by which the two chambers are separated from each other, and which can allow for mixing of the contents of both chambers.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second chambers are arranged adjacently and separated by a weld which opens when pressing on one of the chambers.
 12. The method of claim 3, wherein the pH range of the first single solution is about 4.2.
 13. The method of claim 2, wherein the buffer is the salt of a weak acid.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the salts of the weak acid is a lactate. 